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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84070</law_id><section_number>18.2-247</section_number><catch_line>Use of terms &amp;#8220;controlled substances,&amp;#8221; &amp;#8220;marijuana,&amp;#8221; &amp;#8220;Schedules I, II, III, IV, V, and VI,&amp;#8221; &amp;#8220;imitation controlled substance,&amp;#8221; and &amp;#8220;counterfeit controlled substance&amp;#8221; in Title 18.2</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-260</reference><reference>16.1-273</reference><reference>16.1-278.8:01</reference><reference>16.1-309.1</reference><reference>16.1-69.48:1</reference><reference>16.1-69.48:3</reference><reference>17.1-275</reference><reference>17.1-275.8</reference><reference>18.2-22</reference><reference>18.2-251.1:3</reference><reference>18.2-308.09</reference><reference>18.2-346.1</reference><reference>18.2-36.3</reference><reference>18.2-513</reference><reference>19.2-13</reference><reference>19.2-188.1</reference><reference>19.2-215.1</reference><reference>19.2-299</reference><reference>19.2-299.2</reference><reference>19.2-386.22</reference><reference>19.2-386.23</reference><reference>19.2-386.24</reference><reference>19.2-386.25</reference><reference>19.2-83.1</reference><reference>22.1-277.08</reference><reference>22.1-315</reference><reference>24.2-233</reference><reference>3.2-4113</reference><reference>4.1-1606</reference><reference>4.1-225</reference><reference>52-8.1:1</reference><reference>53.1-220.1</reference><reference>54.1-2400.2</reference><reference>54.1-2523</reference><reference>54.1-2903</reference><reference>54.1-3405</reference><reference>54.1-3408.05</reference><reference>54.1-3443</reference><reference>8.01-227.4</reference><reference>9.1-139</reference><reference>9.1-145</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Crimes Involving Health and Safety</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Drugs</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Wherever the terms &#x201C;controlled substances&#x201D; and &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Schedules</span> I, II, III, IV, V, and VI&#x201D; are used in Title 18.2, such terms refer to those terms as they are used or defined in the Drug Control Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Citation" href="/54.1-3400/">54.1-3400</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-301263" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-247/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">imitation controlled substance</span>&#x201D; when used in this article means (i) a <span class="dictionary">counterfeit controlled substance</span> or (ii) a pill, capsule, tablet, or substance in any form whatsoever which is not a controlled substance subject to abuse, and: <a id="paragraph-301264" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-247/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Which by overall dosage unit <span class="dictionary">appearance</span>, including color, shape, size, marking and packaging or by representations made, would cause the likelihood that such a pill, capsule, tablet, or substance in any other form whatsoever will be mistaken for a controlled substance unless such substance was introduced into commerce prior to the initial introduction into commerce of the controlled substance which it is alleged to imitate; or <a id="paragraph-301265" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-247/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Which by express or implied representations purports to act like a controlled substance as a stimulant or depressant of the central nervous system and which is not commonly used or recognized for use in that particular formulation for any purpose other than for such stimulant or depressant effect, unless marketed, promoted, or sold as permitted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. <a id="paragraph-301266" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-247/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In determining whether a pill, capsule, tablet, or substance in any other form whatsoever, is an &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">imitation controlled substance</span>,&#x201D; there shall be considered, in addition to all other relevant factors, comparisons with accepted methods of marketing for legitimate nonprescription drugs for medicinal purposes rather than for drug abuse or any similar nonmedicinal use, including consideration of the packaging of the drug and its <span class="dictionary">appearance</span> in overall finished dosage form, promotional <span class="dictionary">materials</span> or representations, oral or written, concerning the drug, and the methods of distribution of the drug and where and how it is sold to the public. <a id="paragraph-301267" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-247/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">marijuana</span>&#x201D; when used in this article means any part of a plant of the genus Cannabis, whether growing or not, its seeds or resin; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds, its resin, or any extract containing one or more cannabinoids. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Marijuana</span>&#x201D; does not include (i) the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalk, oil or cake made from the seed of such plant, unless such stalks, fiber, oil or cake is combined with other parts of plants of the genus Cannabis; (ii) industrial hemp, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/3.2-4112/">3.2-4112</a>, that is possessed by a person registered pursuant to subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Issuance of registrations; exemption" href="/3.2-4115/">3.2-4115</a> or his agent; (iii) industrial hemp, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/3.2-4112/">3.2-4112</a>, that is possessed by a person who holds a hemp producer license issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture pursuant to 7 C.F.R. Part 990; (iv) a hemp product, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/3.2-4112/">3.2-4112</a>; (v) an industrial hemp extract, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/3.2-5145.1/">3.2-5145.1</a>; or (vi) any substance containing a <span class="dictionary">tetrahydrocannabinol</span> <span class="dictionary">isomer</span>, ester, ether, salt or salts of such <span class="dictionary">isomer</span>, ester, or ether that has been placed by the Board of Pharmacy into one of the <span class="dictionary">schedules</span> set forth in the Drug Control Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Citation" href="/54.1-3400/">54.1-3400</a> et seq.) pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Board to administer article" href="/54.1-3443/">54.1-3443</a>. <a id="paragraph-301268" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-247/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">counterfeit controlled substance</span>&#x201D; means a controlled substance that, without authorization, bears, is packaged in a container or wrapper that bears, or is otherwise labeled to bear, the trademark, trade name, or other identifying mark, imprint or device or any likeness thereof, of a drug manufacturer, processor, packer, or distributor other than the manufacturer, processor, packer, or distributor who did in <span class="dictionary">fact</span> so manufacture, process, pack or distribute such drug. <a id="paragraph-301269" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-247/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">tetrahydrocannabinol</span>&#x201D; means any naturally occurring or synthetic <span class="dictionary">tetrahydrocannabinol</span>, including its salts, <span class="dictionary">isomers</span>, and salts of <span class="dictionary">isomers</span> whenever the existence of such salts, <span class="dictionary">isomers</span>, and salts of <span class="dictionary">isomers</span> is possible within the specific chemical designation and any preparation, mixture, or substance containing, or mixed or infused with, any detectable amount of <span class="dictionary">tetrahydrocannabinol</span>. For the purposes of this definition, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">isomer</span>&#x201D; means the optical, position, and geometric <span class="dictionary">isomers</span>. <a id="paragraph-301270" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-247/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> The term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">total tetrahydrocannabinol</span>&#x201D; means the sum, after the application of any necessary conversion factor, of the percentage by weight of tetrahydrocannabinol and the percentage by weight of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. <a id="paragraph-301271" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-247/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H"><p><span class="prefix-number">H.</span> The Department of Forensic Science shall determine the proper methods for detecting the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol in substances for the purposes of this title, Chapter 11 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Possession, etc., of marijuana and marijuana products by persons 21 years of age or older lawful; penalties" href="/4.1-1100/">4.1-1100</a> et seq.) of Title 4.1, and &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/54.1-3401/">54.1-3401</a>. The testing methodology shall use post-decarboxylation testing or other equivalent method and shall consider the potential conversion of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid into tetrahydrocannabinol. <a id="paragraph-301272" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-247/#H"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1975, cc. 14, 15; 1979, c. 435; 1982, c. 462; 1984, c. 684; 1992, c. 756; 1999, cc. 661, 722; 2004, c. 688; 2019, cc. 653, 654; 2020, cc. 831, 1285, 1286; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 110; 2023, cc. 744, 794.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
